McDonald’s is hiding its famous mascot, Ronald McDonald, in the midst of a wave of scary clown sightings across the US.

“McDonald’s and franchisees in the local markets are mindful of the current climate around clown sightings in communities and as such are being thoughtful in respect to Ronald McDonald’s participation in community events for the time being,” McDonald’s spokeswoman Terri Hickey told Business Insider.

Ronald McDonald — with his clown-like face paint, red wig, and yellow jumpsuit — has long been the face of McDonald’s.

The creepy sightings began in Greenville, South Carolina, in August, when several children told authorities that a group of clowns offered them money to follow them into the woods. The suspects were never found.

Since then, there have been hundreds of reports of strange clown sightings, some of which have turned violent.